Apparatus for drying and shaping hosiery



April 23, 1935. w. M. HOUCHIN ET AL APPARATUS FOR DRYING AND SHAPING HOSIERY Filed July 9, 1951 Passed Apr. 23,1935 7 1,998,872

TVUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR DRYING AND SHAPING HOSIERY William M. Houchin and Chester It. Hughes, At-

lanta, Ga.; said Hughes assignor to said Houchin 1 Application July 9, 1931, Serial No. 549,776 6 Claims. (Cl. 22317) The object of this'invention is to provide a .a further modification in which the form is made method whereby hosierymay be rapidly, efiecin sections so joined as to be taken apart and tively and economically dried and shaped, and nested, thus requiring less storage space'than 1x11 (apparatus whereby the method may be carthe forms illustrated in the figures previously r e ou I The apparatus hereinafter described is adaptsectional elevation of one of the separable coned primarily for domestic use, and embodies nections of the sections of the form illustrated structural and otherfeature's which enhance its in Fig. 6. i 1

usefulness in. the home. The method of the invention, as hereinbefore described. Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary 6 I 10: .The invention contemplates a method of drypointed out contemplates the arrangement of 10" ing hosiery which includes the steps ofarrang the hosiery upon the forms, while moist, in such ing the hosiery on suitably shaped light openmanner that they are stretched to the proper. work forms in such manner that, itis distended, shape and have their tops so spread or distended and in' applying a. drying medium, preferably as to-provide an. opening and their juxtaposed l5; heated air, in such mannerthatit-will be pre-, leg and foot portions so separated as to. provide 16- sented both to the inside surface and to the an extension of this. opening throughout the outside surface of the hosiery, thereby providing length of the leg and foot of the stocking thus for very rapid evaporation of the moisture from making provisionfor the passage of a heating the hosiery and ensuring even and rapid drying medium, preferably heated air, not only over and 20 thereof, the shape of the forms being such as to around their exterior surfaces, but through the 20 ensure giving .to the hosiery the proper shape opening and over and around their interior surwhen dried, And the invention contemplates faces, thereby making possible the dissipation of further, an open-work form of such constructhe moisture by currents of the heated air from tion'as to necessitate only a. slight surface conthe inside and outside of the hosiery simultanetact of the hosiery therewith while being dried; ously, and the presentation of such currents of 25 in a support for such form, or a plurality of heated air to the hosiery in such manner that I same; and'in various modifications of such'dryit may thus act upon the inside and outside suring form, including a form adapted to be elecfaces thereof. simultaneously. By this method trically heated, all as will be explained hereinof drying, it will be seen that the heating medium after more fully and finally claimed. is evenly distributed over the hosiery fabric, and 30 In the accompanying drawing illustrating the the moisture rapidly andeffectively carried off. invention, in the several figures of which like Moreover, a relatively small amount of heat is partse'le Similarly at d, gu e s a perrequired, for the reason that there being very Speetive view illus at g tWO d y forms little contact between the hosiery and the forms,

mounted 1 a base pp t, the i forms as will later appear, the drying medium can act 35 Shown being a Size and ape ad pt d for directly upon the fabric of thehosiery and does womens stockings as indicated in broken lines. not have toheat the forms.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a form having such Referring now to the drawing, and particularly structural characteristics as enable it to be used t Figs; 1', 2 5 a 6 thereof t n b seen that 40 with the basecr support of Fig. l and of such the open framework forms are preferably made 40 shape as to make it suitable for the drying of of relatively small diameter but stiff wire or rod mens socks. Fig. 3 is a perspective view illusl bg-nf; t Such shape 'to provide a foot portion tratinga stocking form embodying the charac- 2 and a leg portion 3 braced in proper position teristics of the invention, and provided with by cross'bmces 4 welded or therwi e suitably 45. ns w eby i ay be el i heated, and affixed. The leg portions of the forms illustrated w th a as wh y t may es pn d in adin Figs. 1, 2 and 6 are provided t their ends with Va e d y g I positionis a fragcross members 5 having eyes 5 by which the forms mentary longitudinal section of one of the frame ma be suspended, if desired. I members 0f the form of F 3 illustrating, p In Fig. 5, the ends of the members of the leg a larger scale, the arrangement of an electrical portions are provided with offset portions 1 which 50 heat element therein. Fig.5 is a perspective may serve to support the forms in upright posi- View of a modified type of form similar to-those tion over any appropriate source of heat. illustrated in Fig. l, but provided with offset por- In Fig. 1 there is shown a base member having tions which serve for supporting it in upright a bottom 8, sides 9 and a top It. The sides 9 are position. Fig. 6 illustrates, in side eelvation, provided with clips or pockets II and with open- 55 ings l2, the material punched out of the sides to form these openings furnishing stops or supports l3 upon which the cross members 5 of the forms may rest when the forms are mounted upon the base by insertion of the lower parts of their leg portions in the clips or pockets H. The base member, with a form or forms bearing stockings carried thereby is adapted to be positioned over any appropriate source of heat such as a gas burner, radiator or other household or the like heat producer, and in order that the heat may rise and be directed into desired drying relation to the hosiery mounted on the forms carried by the base, the bottom 3 is provided with an opening l4, and the top 10 is provided with openings 15 having bafiles or deflectors l6. As indicated in broken lines, the tops ll of stockings l8 mounted upon the forms will terminate in such proximity to the openings !5 and their baliles [6 that currents of heated air issuing through the openings I5 will be directed into the distended openings of the tops of the stockings and will pass upwardly through and within the stockings as well as over their outer surfaces. Moreover, currents of heated air will issue also through the openings I2 in the sides of the base and through the open ends of the base and will pass upwardly over the exterior surfaces of the stockings.

Thus, the base, in addition to supporting a form or forms and the stockings mounted thereon will serve to direct the heating medium in such manner that the method contemplated by the invention will be accomplished.

As shown, the base may be cheaply and readily constructed of one piece of sheet metal propperly punched, bent and connected to provide the characteristics and elements described.

Obviously, a number of forms may be held in reserve, as desired, and supplied with washed stockings and inserted in the base in rotation, thus making it possible to dry a number of stockings by using one base and without removing the base from its position relatively to the source of heat.

Referring more particularly to the drying and shaping frame shown in Figs. 6 and 7, it will be seen that it is made in four sections a, b, c and d, separable on the lines a, b and 0, so that the form may be nested and its normal length thus shortened for packing and storage. Adjacent to the lines of separation a, b and c, the sections b, c and cl are provided with similar struts l9 having lugs 25 which engage with notches 2| in the contiguous portions of the members i of the adjacent sections a, b and 0, respectively. These lugs 20 and notches 2| form the complemental elements of separable fastening devices whereby the several sections may be connected in longitudinal rigidity.

In Figs. 3 and i, the form is shown as composed of a channel member 22 shaped to provide a foot portion 23 and a leg portion 24, and the ends of the leg portion are preferably rigidly attached to a base 25. Within the channel member 22, and preferably extending throughout the entire extent of the open framework form produced thereby, is an electrical heating element 26, preferably a coiled resistance, supported in spaced relation to the channel member 22 by a plurality of suitably spaced insulating members 21'. The two ends of the heating element 26 terminate within the base 25 and are there connected with the two wires of a drop cord or other suitable electrical conductor 23 which may be provided, if desired, with a switch (not shown).

The cross-sectional contour of the channel member 22 is preferably elliptical or parabolic, so that the heat may be reflected from its inner surface into the interior of a stocking mounted upon the form. If desired, the inner surface of the member 22 may be plated or polished or otherwise appropriately treated to provide a good refleeting surface.

In all of the drying and shaping forms contemplated by the invention, it will be seen that there is relatively very little of the surface of the form in contact with the hosiery mounted upon it, and that, therefore, the heating medium (heated air, preferably) is free to circulate through and in contact with both the inside and outside surface of the hosiery free of any material obstruction or interference by the form. Moreover, the rods or wires or channel members of which the forms are made are relatively so light that while they will maintain the hosiery distended with juxtaposed surfaces out of contact for free circulation of air they will produce no appreciable marking of the hosiery where they contact therewith and, furthermore, they absorb very little of the heat and hence do not detract appreciably from the drying effect.

Although the apparatus of the invention has been described particularly as for domestic or household use, it will be apparent that it may be so modified or mounted as to adapt it for factory, laundry and other industrial uses.

Various changes and modifications are deemed to be permissible within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the following claims.

What we claim is:-

l. A stocking drying and shaping apparatus, comprising an open framework form made in separable detachable foot and leg sections, and a strut arranged adjacent to each of the lines of separation of such sections, said struts furnishing means of connection for assembling said sections.

2. A stocking drying and shaping apparatus, comprising an open framework form made in separable sections shaped to conform to the foot and leg portions of a stocking, a strut in each section spanning the line of separation between such section and the next adjacent section, each of said struts provided with one element of a separable fastening device for the sections, the complemental element of such fastening device being carried by the contiguous portion of the adjacent section.

3. Apparatus for drying and shaping hosiery, including an open framework form having foot and leg portions adapted to support hosiery 1n distended condition with the hosiery top held open, and a base for mounting such form in inverted position with the foot portion uppermost, said base adapted to be arranged upon means for producing a drying medium and having means for permitting the issuance of such medium, said means including apertures for passing portions of such medium exteriorly and interiorly of said hosiery, the apertures for passing heating medium interiorly of the hosiery including members substantially alined with the open hosiery top for directing said medium into the interior of said hosiery.

4. Apparatus for drying and shaping hosiery, including a base adapted to be operatively positioned with respect to a source of heated air, said base provided with means for detachably mounting a hosiery drying form, said form adapted to support the hosiery in inverted position with the thereof.

5. Apparatus for drying and shaping hosiery, including a base adapted to be operatively positioned with respect to a'sourceiof heated air, said base comprising a sheet metal member provided with clips for supporting open framework hosiery forms thereon, said base provided with a plurality of apertures for permitting the escape of heated air therefrom in proximity to hosiery mounted upon said forms in distended condition with their foot portions uppermost and their tops held open, certain of said apertures provided with deflectors located in proximity to and below the open tops of thehosiery and so arranged as to direct portions of the heated air into the interior of the hosiery through the open tops thereof.

6. Apparatus for drying and shaping, hosiery, including a base adapted to be operatively positioned with respect to a source of heated air, said base comprising a member including bottom and top portions arranged in spaced relation and connected by side portions, clips connected with said side portions and adapted to detachably support open framework hosiery forms upon which hosiery may be mounted indistended condition with their tops held open and adjacent to the toplof said base, the side and top portions of said base provided with apertures for the passage of heated air in proximity to said hosiery, the apertures in said top portion provided with deflectors terminating adjacent to the open tops of the hosiery and functioning to direct a portion of the heated air into the interior of the hosiery through the open tops thereof.

WILLIAM M. HOUCHIN. CHESTER R. HUGHES. 

